[B-Greek] EI in Col 1:23/

Anthony Buzzard anthonybuzzard at mindspring.com
Tue Mar 27 17:35:13 EST 2007



Ladies and Gentlemen,
>May  I please ask for your expert opinion. In Col 1:23 we have an EI 
>(if) with an indicative.
Is it true that when IE is followed by an indicative the condition is 
not really a condition? In other words does the Greek mean "If, as is 
absolutely certain to be the case, you continue...."
Or is the sense truly conditional, ie "If and only if you 
continue.... otherwise...."
Can one say that the indicative after EI cancels the idea that 
anything but certainty is implied?.
Certainly in English one hears in Col 1:23 "On condition that you persist...."
And the further statement "not shifting...." seems strongly to imply 
that such a shifting is a real possibility.
Anthony Buzzard.


Anthony Buzzard
www.restorationfellowship.org 



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